He was charged with 110 counts of operating illegal slots machines at 41 locations in Baltimore County, but at an Oct. 29 hearing Carroll “Roy” Bond received probation before judgment for owning and maintaining illegal slot machines at just three of those locations.

As part of a plea agreement, Bond, of Cockeysville, agreed to let prosecutors read a statement of charges on three of the 110 counts of operating the illegal slots just as his hearing was to begin in District Court in Essex.

Prosecutors carted in evidence including several large binders, boxes and a large sealed bag and a truckload of video poker machines seized in raids May 8. Jill Savage, an assistant state’s attorney, said she planned to call 10 of the 41 bar and restaurant owners to testify against Bond. The witnesses would have been offered immunity from state and federal prosecution, she said.

“I think when he realized the witnesses were going to testify he realized this was the best thing,” Savage said of the plea agreement.

Bond, who owns Baltimore-based Carbond Inc., along with one of his employees, entered into agreements to place his machines in various bars and restaurants around the county. In return for providing payouts to players, the establishments would split the money in the machines with Bond. Sometimes the split was as high as 60-40, Savage said.

Bond, 44, of the 800 block of Hayfields Road, agreed to allow prosecutors to read a statement of charges that described the seizure of more than a half-dozen illegal slot machines from three locations: Walther Liquors, located in the 8600 block of Walther Boulevard, in Parkville; RC Rodger’s Deli, located in the 900 block of Frederick Road, in Catonsville; and Victor’s Place, located in the 3100 block of Hammonds Ferry Road, in Lansdowne.

County police seized about 100 other machines from 38 other locations around the county including Perry Hall, Towson, Owings Mills and Parkton.

Stephen Tully, Bond’s attorney, advised his client at the hearing that the statement of charges “would be enough to convict you.”

District Court Judge Darryl Fletcher imposed a sentence of probation before judgment and three years of unsupervised probation. The 110 slot machines seized in the raids are to be destroyed by police. The county will also not have to return nearly $20,000 seized as part of the raids.

Bond also is prohibited from owning or operating illegal slot machines.

Bond said only one word during his hearing. He answered “yes” when Tully asked if he understood his rights before entering into the plea agreement.

Outside the courtroom, Bond declined to comment on the sentencing.

Bryan P. Sears is political editor for Patuxent Publishing Co.’s Baltimore County newspapers.

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user comments (1)

user brucerobinson says...

Thank you for mentioning the name of the District Court Judge. Although we do not get to vote on District Court Judges ( they are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate for ten year terms), it is a good practice that informs voters. We do get to vote on Circuit Court Judges and could sorely use information on their performance on the bench. A straight convicted vs. acquitted record does no service, because judges do not pick and choose the cases or prepare and present the evidence. They apply the rules and apply the law to the facts to make a decision. Knowing the cases, the reasoning of the judge and the sentence for convicts can help the community form an opinion about the judges and their challengers. This year, I vote YES for both Baltimore County Circuit Court Judges, Thomas Bollinger and Patrick Stringer. I have had the opportunity to observe and converse with both men, as well as read about their judicial behaviors in local newspapers. Please, keep up the good work.

Posted 10:35 AM, 11.01.08

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